Blog Feed: Word Grrls

How to Start a Fresh Blog Post When You’re Stuck

Published on 2012-05-23 18:27:27

Everyone hits a blank now and then. Don’t get impatient with yourself. Take a quick break, make yourself another coffee, start a load of laundry or walk around the block once or twice. Then come back and use one of these to give your post a fresh start: Use a statistic you find somewhere. Look [...] > read more

Linguistics and Semantics

Published on 2012-05-22 15:46:30

From SuiteU. Saved before it disappears. More pages of links were included back to the course writer’s topic on Suite101 but all of those links were 404 so I have not tried to include them. Linguistics & Semantics By Antonella Sartor Introduction Have you never asked yourself what is the real meaning of ‘language’? (linguistics) [...] > read more

Character Development

Published on 2012-05-21 15:41:03

This is originally posted to Suite101 University which has been closed and is due to be demolished soon. I wanted to keep the content I’d like to read again myself. Character Development By Linda Orlando IntroductionWhen I was writing my first book, I went searching for tips and techniques from more experienced writers. I wanted my [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day: Fair

Published on 2012-05-20 09:20:45

Fair One Word Blog Day Fair is so multi-purpose. Related Posts:One Word Blog Day: AvatarOne Word Blog DayOne Word Blog DayOne Word Blog DayOne Word Blog Day > read more

Turn Posts and Categories into Faux eBooks

Published on 2012-05-19 09:15:58

Lorelle on WordPress has created images in her sidebar to link to favourite, popular posts and categories in her blog. But, she has made the images look like more – I thought they were going to be ebooks she has written. Did you think the same (if you have seen them) too? Could you do [...] > read more

Get the Clutter Off Your Desk – Free Yourself!

Published on 2012-05-18 12:34:22

Tips to Avoid a Cluttered Desk Start by sorting papers. Just put them in two piles, stuff you need and stuff you can put right into the recycling bin (directly – do not pass Go). Keep a bin, bag or some kind of container right there as you work your way through and get rid [...] > read more

Do You Consider Low Literacy When you Write for the General Public?

Published on 2012-05-17 10:07:20

Strategies of low-lit readers People with low literacy skills have difficulty understanding what they read because they’re spending so much effort on decoding—word and letter recognition—that they have few cognitive resources left to interpret meaning. They may read every word put in front of them, but because they don’t have much left to attend to [...] > read more

Victoria Day: The Holiday Becoming Lost in Time

Published on 2012-05-16 05:13:14

Victoria Day celebrates Queen Victoria’s birthday. This year it will be on May 21st. There will be people who don’t know who Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901) is. Maybe they know her for the century she influenced with Victorian fashion and protocol. They aren’t likely to know much about Queen Victoria herself. Some won’t even [...] > read more

The Fears and Musings of a Newsosaur

Published on 2012-05-15 09:31:15

Newsosaur on Twitter. I don’t think news media will become extinct. We have the ability to evolve rather than become extinct. The communication will always be needed and wanted, but the media and the message need to be flexible. This isn’t easy because we tend to like our standards and resist change at the same time [...] > read more

Writing as a Form of Gambling

Published on 2012-05-14 05:51:07

Laura: How do you handle losing at cards? Especially if someone else is a poor winner? Shawnee: Playing games and gambling should be fun, even when you lose. I have a few simple rules I play by that help me deal with losing: * Play the game for the fun of it; winning is just [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day – Thingamajig

Published on 2012-05-13 09:32:52

Thingamajig > read more

Zombie Scenarios from the Zombie Safety Guide

Published on 2012-05-12 02:06:21

From the Zombie Safety Guide Zombie Scenario # 7 You find yourself holed up in an abandoned building in the middle of the night. You were forced to take shelter because there are Zombies crawling all around the street. You hear a peculiar banging coming from deeper within the abandoned building. You’re armed with a [...] > read more

A Slow Down in Posting this Week

Published on 2012-05-11 09:39:49

I’m having some computer issues while I try to change from running the MS Windows operating system to Ubuntu Linux. The new computer is not co-operating as well as the old computer did. Related Posts:The Slowing WebX Marks the SpotUbuntu Live, Windows DeadKeep your Computer Happy and HealthyComputer Buggy? > read more

Mysteries

Published on 2012-05-11 09:38:23

This was originally part of the Suite101 University ecourses offered for free. I wanted to preserve the information for myself and others as Suite101 is taking all of the ecourse University content down. Mysteries By Janet Blaylock Introduction This course is a pre-requisite to “Writing Mysteries.” What are your favorite genres? Romance perhaps? Maybe it’s Adventures [...] > read more

Inspirational Writing

Published on 2012-05-10 09:32:21

Originally part of the Suite101 University ecourses offered for free. This content is being removed by Suite101 and I wanted to preserve some of it so others could take the course and for myself to remember the information. Inspirational Writing By Sara Quest Introduction > read more

Magazine Writing

Published on 2012-05-09 09:34:52

Originally part of the Suite101 University ecourses offered for free. This content is being removed by Suite101. I wanted to keep it active and useful for myself and others. Magazine Writing By Lisa-Anne Sanderson Introduction > read more

You Don’t Look Like Someone Who’s Famous and Other Reasons I Will Never Feel Like a Somebody

Published on 2012-05-08 06:59:17

I looked at my place on the AllTop Writing list today. It was a nice spot, close enough to the top to keep my toes from getting chilly and yet not so close that I feel intimidated by myself or stressed out about having to perform. Performance anxiety, the stress you get when you realize [...] > read more

51 Short and Simple Writing Prompts

Published on 2012-05-07 11:55:52

Describe the smell of popcorn.The allure and memories associated with it. Write a short history for a penny found in the shopping mall parking lot. You name your pet goldfish, Ichabod. What’s the story behind that? Dragons are real. Three of them just appeared in your living room looking for… Explore the world of cracked [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day – Conceptual

Published on 2012-05-06 11:38:01

Conceptual – The beginning of things. > read more

Will Cable TV Become Obsolete Before the Printed News?

Published on 2012-05-06 10:24:56

I should start collecting information on this, but for now I’m just posting this link. (See below). I think there’s a chance cable TV service will become a dinosaur/ obsolete before the print newspapers even. People talk about the demise of publishing in print, but it costs less than a dollar to buy a whole [...] > read more

How to Write a Postcard

Published on 2012-05-04 23:10:36

I’m writing a post about postcards on HubPages. I found a couple of links where someone had written about writing postcards. A nice idea. So here are a collection of tips for writing postcards. Write about how you got there, the journey so far. Are you going by bus, driving yourself or did you fly [...] > read more

SITS Girls Spring Fling

Published on 2012-05-04 11:04:41

We’d like to formally invite you to our Spring Fling, completely geared at being easy, fun, and interactive. From May 7th to May 18th, here is what you can expect from us: One entire week devoted to building your following on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+. {And don’t worry a bit if you [...] > read more

Theme Song from The Dudesons

Published on 2012-05-03 07:18:58

I’ve got hooked on watching The Dudesons on Saturday nights. Late Saturday they run 4 – 6 episodes back to back. At first I thought it was too crazy to watch. It kind of grows on you if you don’t turn the channel. Now I think of them as “those crazy Vikings” and I usually [...] > read more

If a Tree Falls on Your House, Stay Calm. It Will Grow Back

Published on 2012-05-02 11:02:02

What would we do without comment spammers telling us how great our blogs are…. Anyway, today I read a Twitter post in the spirit of “stay calm”. I lost track of the original so I can’t post it here. (It was a promotion for a book with a title about sharks). But, I thought of [...] > read more

Merry May Day

Published on 2012-05-01 21:41:54

Merry May Day. It never really feels like we can count on Spring sticking around until May 1st. Here in mid-northern Ontario we had snow last week. I’d be more surprised to see snow in May. This is my first post for the 31 days of the Word Count Blogathon. Related Posts:The Word Count BlogathonMerry [...] > read more

Stop Wasting Your Time… on Titles that Don’t Say Enough

Published on 2012-04-30 09:19:07

Are you losing potential readers because you don’t post enough information when you try to lure them into your posts? We read so many leading titles that have promise and then don’t deliver. As writers, we need to give people enough information that they can connect to something we have written about and want to [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day – Cardboard

Published on 2012-04-29 00:24:22

Cardboard > read more

What It Really Is Like to be a Work-at-Home Writer

Published on 2012-04-29 00:16:24

I’m kind of frustrated. I had a GREAT idea for a post. It was all floating around in my head, all the bits coming together to create THE IDEA. Then the phone rang – something about a survey about the furnace for the home owner. I was annoyed. I got rid of them. I got [...] > read more

Ladies Learning Code

Published on 2012-04-27 23:48:42

We’re a women-run not-for-profit group working to empower everyone to feel comfortable learning beginner-friendly technical skills in a social, collaborative way. Ladies Learning Code started in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in June 2011 – with a tweet. It is through the hard work and dedication of many people (many, many more than are pictured here) that [...] > read more

14 Secrets for a Happy Artist’s Life

Published on 2012-04-27 13:47:16

1. Find 3 good things every day, whether they are experiences, or objects, or both. Find a way to use them in art. 2. Make everything special. Embellish your life. 3. Look for Fairy God-mothers and Angels. Be ready for experiences that will delight and surprise you. 4. Play more often. 5. Look for the [...] > read more

Not the Standard in Goal Getting

Published on 2012-04-26 01:58:23

On the HubPages Answer section someone asked how you keep/ reach goals you set, what helps you to get there. I thought about it a bit and then wrote: I don’t tell anyone else about my goal. That goes against popular opinion. But, once I tell someone I have to listen to their advice, their [...] > read more

Spread Yourself Out without Spreading Yourself Thin

Published on 2012-04-25 00:22:18

Spread yourself out without spreading yourself thin. This is my new motto. I think it can be done. Time management and planning. Thinking of ways to combine tasks like promoting on social media that does some of the work itself, but not in a way that makes it too automatic so that it lacks any [...] > read more

Women Who Think Like a Man

Published on 2012-04-24 10:53:16

Where did this one start? Some of these Twitter things are too funny. I don’t think this one started out with the intent to be funny, but it is. What would you post? Consider what we know about how men think. What men think. I’m glad we (woman that I am) don’t think like men. [...] > read more

I’ll Just Be Me

Published on 2012-04-23 06:03:30

It’s been awhile since I picked a Twitter profile as a best of for the month. I just haven’t come across a profile that especially made me laugh, think, or decide to follow someone based on just what he/ she had written in their Twitter profile. Today I found AnnaPuzzlemint. I like just being me. [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day – Rust

Published on 2012-04-22 06:12:25

Rust > read more

Stop Thinking About Success and Make It Happen

Published on 2012-04-20 23:12:10

I give this piece of advice to everyone who reads this article: Stop thinking about success and make it happen. One of the hardest things about being a writer is realizing that not everyone is going to immediately love reading your work. It takes time. But if you truly love what you’re writing about, that [...] > read more

Add an Adult Content Warning to your Site

Published on 2012-04-20 12:50:23

I run one adult themed blog. It’s mainly for myself, a place to keep things that I wouldn’t post to other sites. Basically, it’s another niche site, but the content happens to be about sex and erotica. Today I moderated a spam comment which I feel is pretty gross. It gives a link to a [...] > read more

SketchCrawl: Drawing Marathons from Around the World

Published on 2012-04-19 06:29:40

The basic idea: to record nonstop everything I could around me with my pencil and watercolors. A drawn journal filled with details ranging from the all the coffee I drank to the different buses I took. After a whole day of drawing and walking around the city the name seemed quite fitting: “SketchCrawl” – a [...] > read more

Out Here on My Own

Published on 2012-04-18 12:09:15

Sung by Irene Cara for the movie, Fame. This song pops into my head different times when I’m not really thinking about anything. Sometimes I wonder Where I’ve been Who I am, do I fit in? Make-believing is hard alone Out here, on my own We’re always proving Who we are Always reaching For that [...] > read more

WordPress Plugins for Writers

Published on 2012-04-17 07:54:59

I got the idea to make a post about WordPress plugins for writers. I use a few which help me and thought I’d share them. But, I found something interesting when I started looking around to see what other writers like to use. Almost every plugin written about as being “for writers” was for SEO [...] > read more

Mini Interview with A Slip of a Girl

Published on 2012-04-16 14:56:32

Writers who work at home like to be comfortable, yet pretty rather than sloppy.  So I decided to ask lingerie blogger, A Slip Of A Girl, “What would be nice, comfortable lingerie for working in front of the computer?” Laura, I think my blogging name and blog name, A Slip Of A Girl, rather gives [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day

Published on 2012-04-15 04:06:53

Restful > read more

You Are Allowed

Published on 2012-04-14 10:58:52

Related Posts:Christmas ASCII ArtCensorship Protest BlackoutValentine ASCII Art HeartsStay on the Optimistic SideHappy Valentine’s Day Post > read more

FanGirling

Published on 2012-04-13 12:00:48

What does #fangirling mean to you? What would it take to knock your socks off? Or, who would it take? Urban Dictionary: Fangirling - v. 1. the reaction a fangirl has to any mention or sighting of the object of her “affection”. These reactions include shortness of breath, fainting, highpitched noises, shaking, fierce head shaking [...] > read more

Dear Pinterest… Could you Move Your Button Out of the Way!

Published on 2012-04-12 14:14:52

Don’t forget to check your sites for stupid mistakes that will annoy people trying to use your site. You WANT people to use your site, remember… I found this while attempting to leave a comment on Pinterest. It’s annoying when a button blocks you from seeing what you are writing. I don’t think I had [...] > read more

I Think Jon Morrow Hasn’t Got it Right Quite Yet

Published on 2012-04-11 23:52:27

I’m tired of blogging advice, no matter how well meant it may be. It’s an endless, bottomless pit and most people think blogging for a few months makes them an expert. If you want to learn about blogging only listen to the people who really are successful at it. (However you measure success, not everyone [...] > read more

Would You Host a Local TweetUp?

Published on 2012-04-10 13:17:30

This information is from the Vancouver Tweetup site. I noticed the post on Twitter and followed it back. I was hoping it would be a lot closer than Vancouver, like maybe at least Toronto. But no… Anyway, I’m considering running one locally, of course. I always want to take on more. I’m sure there’s a [...] > read more

Have Earth Day on Snip.it

Published on 2012-04-09 08:58:46

Have an environmental issue or topic you feel passionate about? Create a collection of articles, images and videos around it for Snip.it’s Earth Day Awareness [snip.it/earthday] competition, which kicked off today. The winning collection gets a new iPad, plus a $200 donation to an environmental nonprofit of choice. Users can submit collections — on anything [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day

Published on 2012-04-08 08:23:41

Empathy > read more

De-Lurking Day/ Week

Published on 2012-04-07 00:36:22

Traditionally in January but… I’m posting about it today. BlogHer: National Delurking Day 2011: Say Hello to your Favorite Bloggers Amid Life’s Crises: Did I Miss National Delurking Week? Rude Cactus: Delurking Day 2011 The oldest post I could find about Delurking Day was from 2003 and even that post attributes the idea to another [...] > read more

The BookWord Game

Published on 2012-04-06 00:35:57

From It’s All About Books, The BookWord Game. The game has been put on hiatus. But, here is the list of all the words created up to now. What can you come up with to add to the list yourself? A List of Bookwords (to be added to as we create them) RecommenDUD: A book [...] > read more

Just a Minute… for Creativity and Inspiration

Published on 2012-04-05 10:21:27

A nice idea. But, officially retired now. What would you have as your round up of creative and inspiring things for this month? I add links that I like to content curations all the time. Have a look at Creative Arts and Creative Writing. Barbara at Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers has posted her list [...] > read more

WordPress 1 Minute Wonder

Published on 2012-04-04 06:52:02

This was a great idea started by Todd Halfpenny. It’s a shame he didn’t keep it going longer. I’m posting it here because I like good ideas. I might get to do something with it later myself. Right now I’m a bit on the over-booked side. This is the first in the series of my [...] > read more

The Awful Silence of Writing

Published on 2012-04-03 06:32:09

Publishing online can be lonely. There should be some kind of cute name for it. Like cabin fever for when you have been indoors too long and desperately must get outside, break free of the inside space. It became known as cabin fever for the pioneers who were trapped inside their small farm houses most [...] > read more

April Fools Challenge

Published on 2012-04-02 08:53:21

CBC Canada Writes April Twitter Challenge with 22 Minutes #CanadaWrites Write a “sorry for the joke” type of post to Twitter. You have to be Canadian for the contest. But anyone can use the idea as a writing challenge. Related Posts:Happy Valentine’s Day PostThe Blogging from A to Z ChallengeThe Dusty Bookshelf Challenge30 Day ChallengeHow [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day

Published on 2012-04-01 19:00:55

Nowhere > read more

I’ve Deleted all my Post Tags

Published on 2012-03-31 14:51:31

I’m sick of dealing with an endless, bottomless list of tags. Last month I wiped out my categories. I left a sensible, comprehensible list of six categories to act as an index. I kept the tags then. But, today I decided the tags had to go. They were a weight on my shoulders I could [...] > read more

What NOT to Do

Published on 2012-03-30 12:08:05

Sometimes people do things they haven’t really thought through. I’m not immune to it. But, we should learn from the mistakes of others, especially the really bad mistakes. Here are two I’ve come across recently: I get a lot of these. The irony being that my contact form states pretty clearly that I don’t want [...] > read more

Dating for Joy

Published on 2012-03-29 17:06:08

Each year there is a Valentine’s Day boost for online dating. Then it slacks off awhile. People might have met someone, then been disappointed and take a break from the dating thing until the official end of Winter hibernation. Or, they met someone and it actually worked out. Most likely, in my experience, they met [...] > read more

This is What Happens When You Die

Published on 2012-03-28 13:48:51

My Aunt Anita died last year. A friend died late last year too. It was kind of nice to know their accounts were still around on Facebook and other sites where they had left some presence. Today I checked on this one and found it gone. Who deactivates the account in this case? You must [...] > read more

Lily’s Friday Prediction

Published on 2012-03-27 12:57:32

Lily’s Friday Prediction – The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. New word list each week. Submissions must be linked to the comments in the blog by the following Thursday. (If you’re later than that you may as well start wtih the new Friday Prediction). On [...] > read more

Connecting the Unknown Tangle

Published on 2012-03-27 10:32:06

Writing fiction has developed in me an abiding respect for the unknown in a human lifetime and a sense of where to look for the threads, how to follow, how to connect, find in the thick of the tangle what clear line persists. Eudora Welty Related Posts:How Do You Hear What is Said?Where is Your [...] > read more

Why Are you Still Using Auto Reply Emails?

Published on 2012-03-26 09:39:25

I just don’t get a personal contact kind of feeling from auto reply email. Yes, it gives me instant (or near instant) feedback, but it is MEANINGLESS! I don’t get an answer to my question. Sometimes I get something based on keywords which usually misses by miles. What I do get is the feeling that [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day

Published on 2012-03-25 22:21:37

Enchanting One Word Blog Day Related Posts:One Word Blog Day: AvatarOne Word Blog DayOne Word Blog DayOne Word Blog DayOne Word Blog Day > read more

Colouring your Books

Published on 2012-03-24 18:15:20

From Rookie Magazine: Annie’s Room: I’m obsessed with rainbows, so my books are organized by color. It really brightens up the room! I just have to think for a second about whether the spine is blue or orange when looking for a particular title. This is such a pretty idea. I think it would make [...] > read more

Curating by Colour

Published on 2012-03-23 04:22:53

I’ve seen a few people using this idea. I find them on Tumblr most of the time. I like it. It’s eye catching, attention getting and sensual wtih real visual appeal. Curating by Color, from the Etsy blog. I have an uncontrollable obsession with trawling Etsy. My Favorites are updated daily with stunning photography, emerging [...] > read more

Do You Have a Posting System?

Published on 2012-03-22 00:35:47

This comes from Founder Tips: Ali Luke Explains How You Can Become a Better Blogger By Becoming a Better Writer My posting system looks like this: Come up with ideas. I try to get several at a time – I keep a list on my computer that I add to when I’ve got a few [...] > read more

Professional Writing

Published on 2012-03-21 14:59:36

This was one of the ecourses offered at Suite101 University. The site is taking down this section, sometime soon. I wanted to keep the content available. It’s well worth keeping. Professional Writing By Sara Quest Introduction Do you long to call yourself a professional? By taking this two-week course, you will be. This course will provide [...] > read more

E-Publishing

Published on 2012-03-20 11:19:44

This was originally part of the Suite101 University ecourses. They are all being taken down from the site, sometime soon. I have preserved some because they are worth keeping. It seems a shame to lose something which has value and had so much effort put into it’s creation. E-Publishing By Dawn Whitmire Introduction “Catch the Wave [...] > read more

RIP 9Rules

Published on 2012-03-18 23:29:31

I’m not unlinking from 9Rules. My feed still goes through on the Writing section of their network, so for that, I am keeping the link up. But, I have in every way that matters, given up on 9Rules. I feel really let down, disappointed and somewhat stupid for ever believing in it. If I had [...] > read more

Writing a Top 10 Sort of List Post

Published on 2012-03-12 22:02:23

Listverse is a fun site to browse through. But, I don’t know why writers would submit a post there. Listverse wants to keep all rights to any content they choose to publish. Listverse will add your name or pen name to the post you have written but I did not see any type of author [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day

Published on 2012-03-11 19:12:09

Drenched. � Play along for One Word Blog Day Related Posts:One Word Blog DayOne Word Blog Day: AvatarOne Word Blog DayOne Word Blog DayA Final Push to One Word Blog Day > read more

You’re the Star of your Documentary

Published on 2012-03-10 19:14:54

I read a post about documenting life through the photographs we take. I got thinking about how small things that happen can mean a lot and shouldn’t be too easily overlooked. The place you go for coffee, the spot you always like to sit and the same coffee mug they serve you with. Right now [...] > read more

Free Thinking Before Bed

Published on 2012-03-09 19:49:31

“Lying in bed just before going to sleep is the worst time for organized thinking; it is the best time for free thinking. Ideas drift like clouds in an undecided breeze, taking first this direction and then that.” – E.L. Konigsburg Related Posts:Keeping the 9 RulesMy Friend is GoneHappy Valentine’s DayNo Lovely UnicornsYour Hogwarts Characteristic > read more

Writer Response Theory

Published on 2012-03-08 18:12:57

Found on a long abandoned blog. WRT: Writer Response Theory is a blog on digital character art — digital art that makes use of letters. Our focus is interactive works in which users input text and receive textual responses. Our URL plays on Reader Reponse Theory – how do reader/writers change the works they encounter [...] > read more

From Twitter #10ThingsAboutMyself

Published on 2012-03-07 15:17:20

Can you write ten things about yourself in complete sentences in just 140 characters? #10ThingsAboutMyself Less that actually once you add the hashtag. How much information can you pack into a sentence? Maybe I cheated a bit with the text art. � Related Posts:Twitter Profile of the MonthHappy Valentine’s Day PostFrom Twitter – #FactsWithoutWikipediaChristmas ASCII [...] > read more

Name Calling Your Self Doubts

Published on 2012-03-06 12:09:52

If you gave all your self-doubt a face what would it look like? Get a face in your mind… now start calling it really mean names. Be the worst bully on the planet and call your own self-doubt names, make it cry. What names do you use. Think about them. Some of them will reflect [...] > read more

Basic Grammar Skills

Published on 2012-03-05 11:51:33

This is a free ecourse which was part of Suite101 University. This part of their site is being removed soon. I wanted to keep the ecourses available. There is a lot of information in the courses. It is a shame to lose a great resource. Basic Grammar Skills By Janet Blaylock Introduction This course is a [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day

Published on 2012-03-04 05:54:27

Anthropomorphism � Play along for One Word Blog Day Related Posts:One Word Blog DayOne Word Blog Day: AvatarOne Word Blog DayA Final Push to One Word Blog DayPetty Revenge for Annoying Word Verification > read more

Buffy Likes to Read

Published on 2012-03-03 15:12:13

Sarah Michelle (Gellar) Prinze - I love books. I’m constantly afraid we’re moving into this digital era where books are going to go away, and to me books are the basis to everything in life. Reading is how we function. It’s not just creative imagination and creative play, it’s how we function as human beings, [...] > read more

21 Techniques for Writing Your own 101 List Post

Published on 2012-03-02 20:53:33

Don’t be intimidated by the big number (101). Write down 10 and just keep going as long as you can. Brainstorm, don’t edit your ideas until you are getting nearer to your goal for 101. Don’t go to other sites or other sources for ideas right away. Start your brain thinking and work on your [...] > read more

Judging Criteria

Published on 2012-03-01 11:03:29

HubPages is having a writing contest. But, the judging criteria aren’t all about writing a good post, for readers. They want a crappy SEO title. Not a title that might interest or intrigue readers, no… just something spammy for search engines. This bugs me! Plus, they want people to use their own photos yet HubPages [...] > read more

Don’t Make Me Sleep Through a Really Good Plot

Published on 2012-02-29 04:12:38

From The Unhappily Uninspired Writer’s Guide to Kick Starting Creativity (& Gaining Back Creative Confidence!) Stop worrying about whether others will “get it” — instead, aim to make them think. They don’t have to “get” it for it to be good writing. Sometimes, my favorite writing is absolutely a mess (House of Leaves by Daniel [...] > read more

Keeping the 9 Rules

Published on 2012-02-28 01:07:20

Today 9Rules is down. I don’t know if it is gone, or just lost. When my site was accepted in 2009 I was pretty happy. Even though the network had been backsliding awhile – there was hope for a fresh revamp. It didn’t quite seem to ever really happen though. I’m still part of 9Rules [...] > read more

The Highlight Reel

Published on 2012-02-28 00:00:00

“The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” – Steven Furtick Related Posts:Here is Everything I’ve Cherished#Define ThisKeeping the 9 RulesBrittany’s Little LettersNo Lovely Unicorns > read more

This Week’s To-Do List

Published on 2012-02-27 21:59:40

Two hours of writing as per the 90 Day Plan. Check the usual places for any interesting freelance work that might pop up. Look for post ideas to be rewritten for HubPages. Reading Suite101 University eCourses. Grab March bus pass. Read/ take back/ renew library books Police check thing for Barrie Health Centre paperwork for [...] > read more

Writing Editorials

Published on 2012-02-27 21:35:53

Originally from Suite101 University, a free ecourse posted a few years ago. I’ve saved the information here because there is a lot worth keeping and I don’t know what will happen to all of it now that Suite101 is closing this area of their site. Writing Editorials By Jason Reeher Introduction Welcome to the Suite [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day: Avatar

Published on 2012-02-26 19:04:07

Avatar � Join in for One Word Blog Day. Once you make your post in your own blog come back here and add your link. Then visit and comment on other blogs. See Veronica’s word. Related Posts:One Word Blog DayOne Word Blog DayA Final Push to One Word Blog DayPetty Revenge for Annoying Word VerificationDon’t [...] > read more

Can you Solve the Mystery?

Published on 2012-02-25 06:49:48

This is an unusual paragraph. I’m curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it? It looks so plain you would think nothing was wrong with it! In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is unusual though. Study it, and think about it, but you still may not find anything [...] > read more

Don’t Turn Your Back on that Garden Gnome

Published on 2012-02-24 07:57:09

Here we are, surrounded by snow at this time of year. It’s a nice time to think about Spring, which I know is coming, eventually. It just takes it’s own time; keeps it’s own schedule. Sort of. I’m thinking of a garden setting for a scene. It’s early morning, the dew is still on the [...] > read more

Recycling Ideas

Published on 2012-02-23 09:03:05

Janet Blaylock:  Ideas can be recycled. Your emotions or interests can produce an idea for a story. Ideas are anywhere and can be used over again. Be alert to your environment, your interests, and your emotions. Somewhere an idea will spark your imagination. Also using different viewpoints can be an idea for another story. Any [...] > read more

Horror Literature

Published on 2012-02-22 00:59:20

SuiteU is closing and will disappear soon. There is a lot of great content there. People who wrote the courses put a lot into them. It’s a shame for them to just disappear. Here is the free ecourse for Horror Literature. I’d like to write horror but so far it all starts out all wrong [...] > read more

What Do Happy Pills Look Like?

Published on 2012-02-21 05:27:15

Do you write better when you are light headed and starving? I think not. Yet, here I am, writing on a day (so far) of fasting. I’m not cleansing. I’m just being a bit lazy about making anything edible. Later I need to get out, catch the bus and get coffee. I’ve been putting off [...] > read more

Keeping a Journal

Published on 2012-02-20 05:13:06

I don’t know where this originally came from any more. I had it saved on a backup CD from March 2004. So it could have been written any time since before then. Keeping a Journal By Anne Cassidy Why writing down your thoughts can do wonders for your well-being. The Write Stuff Discover the power [...] > read more

One Word Blog Day

Published on 2012-02-19 07:26:12

licorice � � Join in for One Word Blog Day. Once you make your post in your own blog come back here and add your link. Then visit and comment on other blogs. This is the first official Sunday, so it may just be me. One Word Blog Day SUBMIT Name E–mail URL Title URL [...] > read more

Two Quotes from Billy Joel

Published on 2012-02-18 20:13:54

I am no longer afraid of becoming lost, because the journey back always reveals something new, and that is ultimately good for the artist. – Billy Joel If you make music for the human needs you have within yourself, then you do it for all humans who need the same things. You enrich humanity with [...] > read more

Afterwards for Valentine’s Day

Published on 2012-02-17 05:52:16

Valentine’s Day is over for another year. How did you score? Isn’t that a bad way to think of it! What could be all romance, cuddles and affection has become about retail, shopping and spending. No, I’m not going on a retail rant. I’ve worked retail enough to live and let live. People need to [...] > read more

Can You Write Like a Useless Man?

Published on 2012-02-16 06:06:12

The Useless Men have been around a few years. They’d like to be famous (in a Canadian way). In the past they wrote more often, posted more often to their original blog. But, the style is still there. Some of the Useless Men are still there too. I know of two on Twitter @rainypete and [...] > read more

Your Free Copyrights

Published on 2012-02-15 05:41:47

Long before the Internet people used the mail service as a cheap way to protect and establish their copyrights for written material. You just make a copy of your work and mail it to yourself. If you keep the envelope sealed you have a preserved copy of your work, dated by Canada Post (insert the [...] > read more

Happy Valentine’s Day Post

Published on 2012-02-14 12:56:33

Starting today at 10 am ET, Canada Writes is holding a new 12-hour writing challenge: the Valentine’s Day “Breakup Tweet” Challenge. That’s right—we want your best “Dear John” letter in a Tweet. Use the Twitter hashtag #canadawrites to send your tweet for the challenge or to just read the tweets already sent. You can send as many entries [...] > read more

Today’s To-Do List

Published on 2012-02-14 08:07:07

Today (this week)  I am working on: Setting up a newsletter for the ASCII Art blog. Deciding how to add ASCII art by others without merging with my own creations. Thinking about a newsletter for Word Grrls. Looking at plugins and other practical stuff. Exploring the options for selling art online. Working through link rot [...] > read more

A Final Push to One Word Blog Day

Published on 2012-02-13 10:08:58

Another project from the broken links: One Word Blog Day. I’m not making that title a clickable link because there isn’t anything I can find to link it to. One Word Blog Day seems to have had it’s last day in 2008. Here are the original instructions (thanks to the Wayback Machine): One Word Blog [...] > read more

Broken Links and Microfiction Monday

Published on 2012-02-12 18:56:22

I’m tidying up my links, using a plugin to check those which are broken. I like to find the site at a new link but most of them are just gone. Kind of sad to see someone’s project lost, forgotten or abandoned. Anyway, one project which I can’t find new or continued anywhere is Mircofiction [...] > read more

Would you Like To…

Published on 2012-02-11 04:53:54

This is such a great idea. People post a list of posts are the most read, most linked to, etc. But a list like that is only so meaningful or useful to a reader. To put it this way instead is so much more inviting and appealing. I found this on A Beautiful Mess. Create [...] > read more

Working on Excerpts, Thumbnails and Teasers

Published on 2012-02-10 10:43:07

I’m back to figuring out how to get my images to load with excerpted post with this blog (running Thesis) as easily as they do with Clear Line on my other blogs. With Clear Line I just add the image into the post, click to make it the featured image and then click to add [...] > read more

Building the Character

Published on 2012-02-09 06:48:56

Building the Character – Reprinted from the WordCraft newsletter on the BackWash site. One of the keys to building a living, breathing character lies in the details. We are constantly reminded to use all our senses. Sometimes, we need to step back and build the back story for some of the main characters using all [...] > read more

What are Your Writing Problems?

Published on 2011-07-05 05:46:50

Writing Problems on Tumblr is looking for more ideas to post. What are your writing problems, with a slant of humour? Send them in. Related Posts:Another Adult Writing PromptWriting Prompts for AdultsGeek Girl ProblemsRapping, Rhyming Writer NerdsThe > read more

Blogging Power Partner

Published on 2011-07-04 21:07:12

On InkRebels I read a post “The Bloggers Guide to Having Fun While Writing“. One of the points was to have a blogging power partner: Having a writing buddy always makes the blogging process more fun! Do you have a friend that also updates > read more

Guest Posts Boom Now Bust

Published on 2011-07-03 11:21:51

Writing guests posts was an excellent way to have someone else give a voice to your blog and be able to take a day off from writing something yourself. it also let new writers break into new blogs, new topics and get some attention/ promotion for the > read more

Dear Writer’s Block…

Published on 2011-07-02 10:02:19

Writing prompt found on Twitter from the (extinct) PP2 Writing Group. Write a letter breaking up with Writer’s Block, starting out with, “Dear Writer’s Block, it’s not you, it’s me … .” I wrote one quickly. N > read more

Happy Canada Day – 144th Birthday

Published on 2011-07-01 20:33:08

Related Posts:ASCII Art Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s DayValentine ASCII Art HeartsChristmas ASCII ArtStay on the Optimistic SideASCII Art Leprechauns for St. Patrick’s Day > read more

The League of Extraordinary Ladies

Published on 2011-06-30 05:48:50

The League of Extraordinary Ladies - (Twitter) – Motto is “Ordinary ladies creating extraordinary connections.” I found the link for LxL through Twitter. Aren’t we all extraordinary in our own way? Though this is so easy to say or to > read more

Ubiquitous Photography

Published on 2011-06-29 10:51:53

Do you use your digital camera or your camera phone to take a picture of something you want to remember, instead of writing the information down? I have been doing this more often. I think it started when I was in a bookstore with my Mother. She want > read more

53 Links about Cell Phone Photography

Published on 2011-06-28 00:50:37

I didn’t know about iPhoneography until reading the word on BinaryDad’s Twitter profile. I don’t have a cell phone and haven’t looked into them. One thing I know about myself is the enjoyment of not being entirely connected. I > read more

Geek Girl Problems

Published on 2011-06-27 05:17:56

Found as a hashtag on Twitter - #GeekGirlProblems What is a Geek Girl problem you may wonder? According to the posts on Twitter they include: Finding a Buffy and Spike wedding cake topper. Wanting white hair like Storm in X-Men. Locating or making DI > read more

Best Twitter Profile of the Month…

Published on 2011-06-26 05:33:13

I clicked on Grumblelina in a feed on another Twitter account. I thought it was a clever take off on Thumbelina. I could only read part of the profile at that point so I had more of a laugh when I got to her profile and read the whole thing. It proba > read more

Rapping, Rhyming Writer Nerds

Published on 2011-06-25 06:40:18

Can you write Nerd rapping rhymes? I wouldn’t have combined those ideas myself, I read about it on Byte Revel. Give it your best shot. Think geek, think nerd and set it to rap. I’m not a rap writer but here’s my attempt, short out o > read more

Horror Stories for Short Attention Spans

Published on 2011-06-24 20:37:04

I wrote Fairy Tales for Short Attention Spans, now I’m working on Horror Stories for Short Attention Spans cause it’s good to make your brain work in different directions. Write something short and twisted and horrifyingly spooky. Keep it > read more

Descriptions with Details Large and Small

Published on 2011-06-23 15:47:55

� � � � � � These ASCII art houses are cute. Making it small is a different challenge from making them much bigger. You have to think about the details in the small size, how to show as many as you can. Unlike the big ar > read more

Old Buildings are not Ours

Published on 2011-06-22 15:40:18

I really like this quote but I don’t fully agree with it. People from the past can not live in the future, they can’t change with the times and understand how life evolves after they are gone. Not every old building can remain standing fo > read more

Hope Meets you Anywhere

Published on 2011-06-21 09:45:29

No matter how far the distance you have traveled nor the failures that have gathered, hope would still meet you anywhere. ~ by Dodinsky It’s not hard to find inspirational quotes and poems and other small things to try to perk you up, give you > read more

Another Adult Writing Prompt

Published on 2011-06-20 10:49:21

This one has a name I’m not so sure about posting here. Yes, I do write adult content (mainly for my own amusement these days) but I am a nice girl, a Canadian too. Some things are just not done in polite company. But, because it is a proper na > read more

Writing Prompts for Adults

Published on 2011-06-19 10:30:04

It’s called Wank Wednesday, so you already know the genre and the fact that it’s a weekly thing. Right? If not, it’s a group for writers of adult/ erotic content who are given a writing prompt once a week (Wednesday) and then they w > read more

Send your Comment Spam to Ben

Published on 2011-06-18 13:03:20

We Need Your Spam! On July 30th, Spam Comment will publish its 200th post. This is great news – but unfortunately it also means we’ve run out of spam comments to publish. Therefore, we really, really need you to send us your comment spam! > read more

What Do Guys Read?

Published on 2011-06-17 06:51:12

If you look at the fiction for boys and young men, there isn’t a lot to choose from. I noticed this years ago as my nephew (Zack) was growing up. Now Zack is almost 16. He reads books from the regular fiction. But, once in awhile he backtracks > read more

Night Owl News

Published on 2011-06-16 06:11:14

I made this for Jade Walker who does Night Owl News. What happens at night? People work, people sleep. In between people are doing other things… Write the night news, fictional. What happened last night? Write it in the news style, just the fac > read more

Open File for News Writers

Published on 2011-06-15 09:45:16

For news writers, reporters, journalists looking to add a fresh credit to your resume or for those just getting started, this looks like a good opportunity. It is a Canadian site but I know there are similar networks/ sites in other countries so you > read more

29 Ways to Stay Creative

Published on 2011-06-14 14:41:20

29 Ways to Stay Creative Make lists. Carry a notebook everywhere. Try free writing. Get away from the computer. Quit beating yourself up. Take breaks. Sing in the shower. Drink coffee. Listen to new music. Be open. Surround yourself with creative peo > read more

A Ghost Book

Published on 2011-06-13 06:14:44

This was painted by Mark Ryden. It reminds me of Miranda, the ghost girl in a book I read about 30 years ago. I wish I could remember the book, who wrote it. When I read it I knew it was a book I would want to read again when I was older and would… > read more

The Sketchbook Project World Tour 2012

Published on 2011-06-12 05:13:12

Read more about The Sketchbook Project World Tour 2012 on their site.  It’s for visual artists to contribute and eventually the sketchbooks will be exhibited in the Brooklyn (US) Art Library. There are a list of topics to choose from to use as > read more

Writer Communities on BlogFrog

Published on 2011-06-11 05:34:07

There are too many social networks, online forums and so on. But, it is still a good thing to find an online community you can really take part in. One way to sort through all of them is to pick them by topic. Don’t join anything too general. Y > read more

Inspiration from Pinterest

Published on 2011-06-10 06:47:40

I joined Pinterest. It’s a closed beta so you have to ask for an invitation. I was sent mine within 24 hours so it’s not a long wait. I like the site. I know there are others out there with the same theme, the same plan. But, there is som > read more

Everything will be OK

Published on 2011-06-09 14:46:23

As seen on Pinterest: Everything will be ok in the end. If it’s not ok, it’s not the end. -Unknown Related Posts:Love, Dear ValentineDestination UnknownReach for your DoorThe Happiest PeopleWorm Songs for Ken > read more

30 Day Photography Challenge

Published on 2011-06-09 14:31:50

White Peach Photography has the 30 Day Photography Challenge. In writing we build the picture with words. Illustrating, with a photograph, drawing or some other form of visual art is usually saved for children’s book and non-fiction. Except for > read more

Are you in the Business of Writing?

Published on 2011-06-08 02:13:12

From Jamee Rae on Newsvine: The Business of Writing Writing is a business. This truth is not always clear to those born with natural talent and who enjoy the creative experience. In many cases, writers don’t want to admit that organization and stra > read more

How to Ask for What you Want

Published on 2011-06-07 01:36:39

This is quoted from the John Chow blog: It’s All About Posture and Control In the PR business, perception is everything and service will always go to the site or blog that the PR rep perceived as better for the show. If you come across as unsure of > read more

All it Takes is a Love of Numbers

Published on 2011-06-06 10:47:09

Have you added all your phone numbers to the Do Not Call List? Even once you add your number there is a month delay before you can accuse anyone of calling you in spite of being on the list. If they add cell phone numbers to their telemarketing call > read more

A Lady in Shining Armour

Published on 2011-06-05 07:07:47

I like role reversal stories in historical fiction, however impractical and untrue they really are. Why should fiction try to be especially honest, practical or factual? If you can’t spin a few tall tales you may as well be writing non-fiction. > read more

How Does the Story End?

Published on 2011-06-04 09:06:23

Do you know how your story will end?� From K.M. Weiland keeper of the Writing Question of the Day, #WQOTD on Twitter. I answered: Not really. I have a general idea but I like the surprise ending when I get to it. I do think you need some room to > read more

Reasons to Explore Lonely Places

Published on 2011-06-03 09:19:18

From Heather on the Exploration Project blog: 5 Reasons Why I Explore Lonely Places I have been thinking lately about why I explore. What is it that fascinates me about lost, lonely, old, and often abandoned places? Well, I have come up with a list & > read more

SITS 31DBBB

Published on 2011-06-03 01:08:27

The SITS Girls are doing 31 Days to Blog Better. Started June 1st so I am already a couple of days behind. I could catch up tonight but I am just too tired. Related Posts:The Back to Blogging Event (Belated)10K Writing Days for DecemberGive a Link Ev > read more

Your Elevator Pitch for #SITS31DBBB

Published on 2011-06-02 09:31:42

I’m catching up for the SITS Girls 31 Days to a Better Blog event. So, first off my elevator statement about this blog. I’ve done this before, but that may have been two years ago. I don’t want to look at what I wrote then cause tha > read more

Could you Write Unpleasantly?

Published on 2011-06-01 01:00:46

I found this on Fragile Heart’s tumblog. How to Have a Lovely Day Smile at strangers. Slow down. Say thank you. Give lots of compliments. Dress nicely. Wear perfume. Observe and listen. Be charming. Laugh. Wish people a lovely day. I can’ > read more

Write to Bird Chatter

Published on 2011-05-31 09:31:48

Put the sound of bird chatter in your mind. If you haven’t heard them in awhile find an audio file online, there’s bound to be at least one on YouTube. Now write. What does the sound of the birds bring to your mind? I think it would be re > read more

Clever Sometimes?

Published on 2011-05-30 21:22:27

The oddest little thing you post to Twitter can catch someone’s interest. I posted “Some days I feel I AM that sound a door makes when it creaks open in a horror movie. Sort of slow and agonized and slightly creepy.” today. Was nice > read more

Who Was I?

Published on 2011-05-29 04:23:20

I was having coffee and feeling kind of lazy and though I needed to push myself out of the chair and into unloading the dishwasher, I stalled. One of the Bourne Identity movies came on (I don’t even know which one from the series). At some poin > read more

Butter Moths are Free

Published on 2011-05-28 16:19:22

Pick a word, like butterflies. How did that word come to be? Were there some flying insects around the butter churn one day and forever after flying insects with pretty wings shall be known as butterflies? Or was it some odd story about people throwi > read more

The Dream gets a bit Spoiled

Published on 2011-05-27 18:04:08

Have you ever wished to be a pirate? Maybe a pirate wench rather than someone expected to run with big knives and all of that. I’d like to sail on a tall ship. To hear the creaking timbers, the waves against the ship. I’d like to feel the > read more

Dead Men Tell No Tales

Published on 2011-05-26 17:00:28

“Dead men tell no tales” – Hiriam Breakes From Deep Sea News: Hiriam Breakes was a Dutch pirate, the second son to the Councillor of the Island of Saba in the Netherlands Antilles. In his twenties, he stole the ship and cargo of his > read more

Edward Scissorhands in ASCII Art

Published on 2011-05-25 22:25:13

I’m not an illustrator, I just play one on my own blog. But, I’ve got the idea to create an ASCII art illustration for Edward Scissorhands’ 20th Anniversary. I can’t believe it has been 20 years. Anyway, wish me luck. It’ > read more

Another Pirates of the Caribbean?

Published on 2011-05-24 12:00:16

Zack (my charming nephew) and myself went to the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie yesterday. It got me thinking about sea myths and legends. So many of them have been covered in the Pirates movies: The Flying Dutchman, mermaids, Davy Jones Locker, > read more

ASCII Fireworks

Published on 2011-05-23 10:21:20

It’s the end of a long weekend here. I’m going out to meet my nephew, Zack for a movie. Related Posts:ASCII Art Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s DayValentine ASCII Art HeartsChristmas ASCII ArtStay on the Optimistic SideTry a Unique Head > read more

Plain Conversation

Published on 2011-05-22 17:57:20

What do you think about fiction written in the dialect of the character? Such as dialogue typed with a Scots brogue. For me it interrupts the flow of the conversation. Also, it seems a bit silly when every character is speaking in some kind of acce > read more

An Optimist Sees the Bright Side of Other People’s Troubles

Published on 2011-05-21 05:31:35

We took Zack (my favourite nephew) out to dinner. His fortune said: “An optimist is always able to see the bright side of other people’s troubles.” Pretty clever for something that came out of a fortune cookie. How do you read this > read more

Why Do you Write, in a Word?

Published on 2011-05-20 05:45:04

Jane Chin posted on Empire Avenue: What One word describes why you write? I thought of assorted words and came up with – “energy”. Writing is a flow of give and take of energy. It brings me energy and takes it away as well. But the > read more

Core Values

Published on 2011-05-19 05:53:44

Sarah’s Core Values: Grace: Being generous and forgiving toward yourself and others) equanimity. Connectedness: Building a support network of friends, family, mentors. Accomplishment: Knowing and appreciating what you’re capable of. Adven > read more

Can’t Avoid Life

Published on 2011-05-19 00:09:13

You can not find peace by avoiding life. – Virginia Woolf Related Posts:No Lovely UnicornsBrittany’s Little LettersGlynis has Word TriggersChristmas Card SigningWords Pushing My Brain > read more

What You’ve Done or What you Want to Do?

Published on 2011-05-18 15:16:17

When you first meet someone, you talk about: What you’ve done in life What you’d like to do in life I read this as part of a personality quiz. How would you answer the question? I had to think about it for awhile. Why do you think you tal > read more

Fear of Writing

Published on 2011-05-17 00:32:05

“Fear of failure is the reason most often cited to explain why so many aspiring writers never realize their dreams. But I think it’s that same fear of failure that absolutely invigorates those who do push through—that is, the fear of not being > read more

What do you Twitter?

Published on 2011-05-16 08:56:12

I found a Twitter fail whale in ASCII Art. What do you like about Twitter? How do you use it? What do you think about how other people use Twitter. Who are you most likely to follow? I enjoy Twitter but mostly for social posts with other people who s > read more

Every Time you Open your Mouth

Published on 2011-05-15 06:17:55

“For good or ill, your conversation is your advertisement. Every time you open your mouth you let the people look into your mind.” Bruce Barton Related Posts:The Open DoorHappy Valentine’s DayCre8Buzz and Word of MouthIs Open Conte > read more

Keep the Roots

Published on 2011-05-14 04:53:09

� “Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a person’s growth without destroying their roots.” - This was on something my Mother brought back from her trip to Florida. Related Posts:Personal Snow DayYour Welcome > read more

This Bitter Language

Published on 2011-05-13 06:22:52

This Bitter Language I know your streets, sweet city, I know the demons and angels that flock and roost in your boughs like birds. I know you, river, as if you flowed through my heart. I am your warrior daughter. There are letters made of your body a > read more

Crash Blossoms

Published on 2011-05-12 06:54:16

NY Times:�Crash Blossoms In news writer’s quest for concision, newspaper headlines can lead to some amusing ambiguities. Funny news headlines which take on a new meaning when written without punctuation. – named Crash Blossoms via La > read more

Life Map

Published on 2011-05-11 02:22:58

Think of your life as a road stretching out towards your future and back into your past behind you. Create a map for your life, your past. Draw it out starting at your birth and then onto important events in your life. Each point represents a story o > read more

Talking to Conceal

Published on 2011-05-10 06:41:50

Talking much about oneself can also be a means to conceal oneself. ~ Friedrich W. Nietzsche Think about this next time you’re writing some dialogue. Not just writing between the lines or leaving things out but what part of conversation hides th > read more

Storms Pass

Published on 2011-05-09 00:32:25

I think I posted this quote before, somewhere. But I like it, especially dancing in the rain. “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” Related Posts:A Lovely Quote for Stormy Days > read more

Another Laura

Published on 2011-05-08 07:09:31

Does it catch your eye to see another person with your same first name? I always feel curious to know a bit about them, wonder if we have anything in common. Is there something to all that theoretical predictions about people’s names, their liv > read more

The Doodologist is Open

Published on 2011-05-07 11:47:03

Claire has begun doodling as a business, The Doodologist. I’m not sure how many years she has been creating her doodles. We even ran a Doodle Week together once upon a time, a couple of years ago. Her doodles are bright, energetic and upbeat. W > read more

Live Out Your Imagination

Published on 2011-05-06 13:21:55

The following come from Quotes for Writers, collected by Amberdine “Live out of your imagination, not your history.” Stephen Covey “If there is a fear of falling, the only safety consists in deliberately jumping.” Carl Jung &# > read more

Cinco de Mayo

Published on 2011-05-05 02:45:06

I looked up a bit about Cinco de Mayo but the gist of it is a celebration of Mexico and Mexican culture. However, it isn’t the national day for Mexico. If I remember what I read that day is in the Autumn. Cinco de Mayo is May 5th. Looking for i > read more

Too Far Past No Return

Published on 2011-05-04 05:27:55

I’ve never watched Whale Wars before. It’s about anti whalers as they try to prevent whaling ships from taking their catch home to be sold/ eaten. Although I don’t agree with whale catching I do wonder at the point of saving a whale > read more

Liminal Space

Published on 2011-05-03 08:25:57

Around the World “L”! posted about liminal space. I had never heard of the term before. She described it well: A “liminal space” is defined as the threshold between two places, states of being, or eras. The term is derived from the La > read more

Weather in a Word

Published on 2011-05-02 06:18:26

How many types of weather can you name? Rainy, windy, stormy, cloudy, drizzling… those are all just in the rain genre. There are sunny days too. See how many weather descriptions you can come up with, just in one word. How much meaning can you > read more

Writer’s Platform-Building Crusade in August

Published on 2011-05-01 06:40:44

The Writer’s Platform-Building Crusade from Monday, August 22, 2011 to October 31, 2011. Basically, the Crusade is a way to link aspiring writers, beginner bloggers, industry people, and published authors together with the aim of helping to bui > read more

Zeal and Zip and Zest

Published on 2011-04-30 05:43:33

Today is the last day of the A – Z Blogging Challenge. Today, Z is for zeal. A long time ago I was a volunteer for a web directory called Zeal, they called the people who worked for them zealots. They gave us badges instead of actual pay. It wa > read more

Yowling to Get Noticed

Published on 2011-04-29 22:40:43

Today is Y on the A- Z Blogging Challenge. A lot of words begin with Y. But for some reason I thought of ‘yowl’. That sound a cat makes when it wants to get noticed. What other words can you think of for sounds cats make? Skip the easy on > read more

Tweet Effect

Published on 2011-04-29 06:19:55

With TweetEffect you can see which of your Twitter posts gained or lost followers for you. Kind of interesting. Of course, it could have nothing to do with the post but chances are it did – especially when it comes to gaining a follower. Isn > read more

X Marks the Spot

Published on 2011-04-28 18:13:05

Today it’s X for the A- Z Blogging Challenge. I have an X in mind today for sure! I’ve been raging a battle for the soul/ mind/ of my computer or at least my own sanity for weeks and weeks. It started months ago when MS Windows had a fina > read more

Writing in Good Faith

Published on 2011-04-27 07:32:15

For the A – Z Blogging Challenge … W is for Witch. No, it’s not early for Halloween. There are Witches, Wiccans and Pagans all year round. Could you write about someone who has a different religion or spirituality than you? Probably > read more

Describe the Music in Words

Published on 2011-04-26 22:24:47

For the A – Z Blogging Challenge… V is for Violin. Is there a difference between the violin and the fiddle? There probably is, but I don’t know about it. I do know that fiddle players have a much different style of music than violin > read more

No Lovely Unicorns

Published on 2011-04-25 09:50:52

For the A – Z Blogging Challenge … U is for Unicorn. �Unicorns always make me play the Irish Rovers in my head. A long time ago, when the Earth was green There was more kinds of animals than you’ve ever seen They’d run ar > read more

Write a Short Mysterious Mystery

Published on 2011-04-24 06:21:29

The fun thing about reading a mystery is having a group of people and picking which of them is guilty. It’s not always a murder, or at least I don’t think it should always be focused on a death. There are endless mysteries in the world, w > read more

Tales of the Epic Treehouse

Published on 2011-04-23 06:50:21

For the A – Z Blogging Challenge… T is for Treehouse. I used to design the treehouse for The Swiss Family Robinson in my head. A whole house with lots of cosy niches and nooks. I’d have a library for my books and even a bow window > read more

Happy Spring!

Published on 2011-04-22 06:17:23

Today for the A – Z Blogging Challenge it’s S for Spring! I won’t even make a post today, other than the ASCII Art I worked on to post here. While you are doing your things of the day today, I will be visiting family leaving my comp > read more

Writing in the Moment

Published on 2011-04-21 06:27:38

Reading, Riting and Rithmatic… Yes, it’s a bit of a cheat for the A – Z Blogging Challenge but I’ve been dealing with computer chaos this week. Just installed another OS tonight. Hoping it will be the last time I need to insta > read more

Quotes to Inspire Writers

Published on 2011-04-20 06:48:49

For the A – Z Blogging Challenge… Q is for Quotes These are quotes from 70 Days of Sweat Writing Challenge. The challenge ended but the blog is still up. The story is not in the plot but in the telling. – Ursula K. LeGuin It is neve > read more

Are you Permissive with your Work?

Published on 2011-04-19 09:54:13

For the A – Z Blogging Challenge… P is for Permission. Someone emailed me today to ask if they could use one of my photos for commercial art they are going to sell. I have given permission for some of my photos to be used for art, for per > read more

Stay on the Optimistic Side

Published on 2011-04-18 00:58:36

Today for the A – Z Blogging Challenge… O is for Optimistic. When do we have a more optimistic day than those days we make big changes to our lives? I made this ASCII art illustration for my wedding, years ago. Things didn’t turn ou > read more

Could you be a Copywriter?

Published on 2011-04-17 12:29:09

The following comes from a real job posting for a copywriter. It gives a lot of detail about the job and what they are expecting. Could you get this job? Or, are there some areas you could brush up on? Position Outline: Responsible for writing advert > read more

New is the New Black

Published on 2011-04-16 09:01:37

For the A – Z Blogging Challenge… N is for New I’m setting myself up on a new (to me) profile network. I guess that is what it could be called. I’ve seen a couple of other networks/ sites like this. You set up a profile with a > read more

Successful Momentum

Published on 2011-04-15 17:39:17

For the A- Z Blogging Challenge… M is for Momentum Rich Fettke, author of Extreme Success, has 10 tips for maintaining our momentum: 1. Take some time to clarify your desired future outcome. Success is seeing what you want and moving toward wha > read more

Moving Forward in Life?

Published on 2011-04-14 06:05:32

This came in a locally delivered newsletter. No credit given to whoever wrote it originally so I don’t know who or where it came from. Are We Moving Forward in Life? Well, that’s a silly question, isn’t it? Life and time moves forwa > read more

A Round of Words in 80 Days

Published on 2011-04-13 14:14:14

A Round of Words in 80 Days – A writing challenge without a word count, 4 times a year. Check in twice a week and visit other writers to give support and get some yourself. The following is taken from the site: Here’s what I propose: A challe > read more

Virtual Kissing

Published on 2011-04-13 06:11:29

Today for the A – Z Blogging Challenge… K is for Kiss The Virtual Kiss site has been around for many years. I’ve sent virtual kisses to Todd while he was my boyfriend and then my husband. I think I even sent him one after the divorc > read more

Shirley Jackson Says…

Published on 2011-04-12 07:17:38

“So long as you write it away regularly nothing can really hurt you.” — Shirley Jackson� “I have always loved to use fear, to take it and comprehend it and make it work and consolidate a situation where I was afraid and take > read more

Chocolate Inspiration

Published on 2011-04-11 07:46:31

For the A – Z Blogging Challenge… I is for Inspiration. Chocolate inspires me. The darkness of it is alluring. The sweetness is souls smoothing. The way it melts is sensual. I’d like to find a chocolate cheesecake recipe with a lot > read more

Listed with Inspiring Women

Published on 2011-04-10 06:13:35

I was listed by Girl Talk on their Twitter list of Inspiring Women. A flattering thing to be called inspiring, especially when I look and see Girl Talk is about inspiring young women. Young people have too much to look forward to. My nephew, Zack, is > read more

How Do You Hear What is Said?

Published on 2011-04-09 07:55:14

A quiz I was reading asked: Are you inclined to take what is said more figuratively or more literally? I had to think about it. I’m still not sure. I think I am some of each but overall more on the literal side. I expect people to mean what t > read more

Go Gorgeous

Published on 2011-04-08 07:30:31

Some days are writing days and some are not. Some days you write a lot of non-fiction but the fiction falls flat. Then there are the days you make your coffee and it gets cold as you forget all about it and the world around you. Your vision narrows t > read more

A to Z Blogging Challenge Code

Published on 2011-04-07 12:59:17

Next Blog Surprise Me! Get the button code // 1&&(b===null||typeof b!=="object")){a=jQuery.extend({},a);if(b===null)a.expires=-1;if(typeof a.expires==="number"){var d=a.expires,c=a.expires=new Date;c.setDate(c.getDate()+d)}return > read more

F is for Finally

Published on 2011-04-07 07:53:38

Apparently I am more behind on the A to Z Blogging Challenge than I thought I was. I had told myself we had weekends off so I thought I was only three days back. I was wrong, it is only Sundays off. Anyway, this is my catching up post. Not that I hav > read more

Friend Friday and Blogging Rules of Engagement

Published on 2011-04-06 08:14:01

This is my post for Blogging A to Z, E for Engagement. I’m a bit behind on the A to Z. Will catch myself up tomorrow. I found Friend Friday on Feminine Bravery. The topic of the week, for April 1st, were the rules of engagement/ etiquette for b > read more

Is Your Ad in the Wrong Place?

Published on 2011-04-05 07:12:00

You know what your blog is about, the theme/ topic you write about, the niche you stick to. Think about who you are writing for/ to (your readership). Your readers are looking for niche/ topical content when they come to your site. Do the ads on your > read more

The Most Beautiful Words for Women

Published on 2011-04-04 06:16:02

Quite awhile ago, Anita posted in her iGoddess blog, about the most beautiful words for women. I recently came across a list of the most beautiful words in English. I eagerly devoured the list but was disappointed that not many of them matched my exp > read more

The 365 Phenomenon

Published on 2011-04-03 07:55:57

What could you see yourself doing every day for a year? Not basic stuff like eating breakfast, brushing your teeth, etc. But some kind of creative endeavour. I’ve been getting hooked on the 365 things lately. There are quite a few of them out t > read more

Pledge to Read the Printed Word

Published on 2011-04-02 07:56:25

Found on Domestic Cherry while looking at bloggers I used to visit regularly when I was part of Entrecard. Read the Printed Word – We support the printed word in all its forms: newspapers, magazines, and of course books. We think reading on com > read more

The Rumours of my Death… #RIPrumors

Published on 2011-04-01 15:25:31

I forget which celebrity it was, but an RIP for one of them became a trend post to Twitter last week. Turned out the rumours of his death were false. I posted “We should all do a fake RIP for each other just to see if anyone notices.” Wel > read more

Your Name in Letters

Published on 2011-03-31 10:41:10

Made with My Cool Signs.Net Posted just because it’s kind of fun. Related Posts:Welcome Town SignsSketching/ Drawing or Doodling for your BlogAbandoned GardensAfterlife for a Christmas Tree?What do you Know about Typography? > read more

Comment Scam

Published on 2011-03-30 09:29:40

I’m glad we can edit comments left on the blog. I don’t remember being able to do that when I was using Blogger/ Blogspot. You could delete the comment or keep it. Today I had a comment on an older post. It was a good post, in my own opin > read more

Off to a Good Start

Published on 2011-03-29 14:53:06

A fairly standard writing prompt is to complete a sentence with your own idea. Such as: “I wonder how…” “The car turned around and…” “I found…” “The scariest animal is…” “T > read more

Not Another Profile

Published on 2011-03-28 18:54:53

In the time I have been online (started 1996) I’ve written a lot of profiles, bios, etc. It does not get easier. For some reason I don’t ever like to write the same thing twice, for any site or network. So, finding something to inspire ne > read more

The Moods of the Delicious Miss Dahl

Published on 2011-03-27 20:57:24

I posted the recipe for Sophie Dahl‘s borscht recipe on my Creative Fat Grrl blog. Her cooking show was on the Food Network today. Unfortunately she only made six, it wasn’t given a second season. Which is a shame cause it was really good > read more

Believe Before you Can Find It

Published on 2011-03-27 20:34:03

‎”Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” — Roald Dahl Related Posts:Roald Dahl: In > read more

The Blogging from A to Z Challenge

Published on 2011-03-26 14:57:32

You can find The Blogging from A to Z Challenge on Tossing it Out. The challenge runs for all of April, 2011. Can you make a post for each letter of the alphabet? The premise of the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge is to post something on your bl > read more

Free Range Social Media Movement

Published on 2011-03-26 12:21:46

Related Posts:And Now… The Rest of the StoryIs Open Content for You?Creative Women Share Social Media TipsA Photo Lasts LongerMust-Follow Personality? > read more

Blogs About Grammar, Writing and Language

Published on 2011-03-25 11:32:14

Blogs.com has a lot of top 10 lists of blogs by topic. You can spend some time browsing for your favourite niche topics and will almost always find something. Some of the lists are getting link rot. I found a list: 10 Great Blogs About Grammar, Writi > read more

What Makes you Weepy?

Published on 2011-03-24 17:20:47

For some reason I am “sensitive” this week. Must be something going on inside my head that I don’t know about. This afternoon I have Cupcake Wars on the TV as I work. (I’m not one of those who puts on music to work to, nope, f > read more

CAPTCHA Art

Published on 2011-03-23 06:43:20

How do you tell computers and humans apart? In cases where we can’t see whether we are interacting with a real human or a computer, CAPTCHA is sometimes used to prevent comment spam CAPTCHArt : A blog for turning random CAPTHCA phrases/ letters > read more

Agatha Christie was in my Email

Published on 2011-03-22 05:19:33

I’m cleaning up in my inbox. Quite a big chore. I’ve had this Gmail account since the year Google began Gmail. There are thousands of emails in it. Some sorted and many unsorted. A lot of them have never been read. I found this in a post > read more

One Word – Shape

Published on 2011-03-21 08:20:49

One Word – The word for the day was “shape”. You get a minute to write whatever comes into your head. How much you write depends on how fast you type and how much you think of while you still have time to type it. I was impressed wi > read more

Do you Give Inanimate Objects Feelings?

Published on 2011-03-20 05:24:14

Do you sometimes attribute feelings to inanimate objects? Maybe you have named your car. Maybe you feel sad for the last cookie in the box, the only book on the shelf? Giving an object feelings this way is called anthropomorphism/ personification, or > read more

Skin Lit

Published on 2011-03-19 11:39:55

As read on a Skin Lit tattoo on but.if.and.that: The unreal is more powerful than the real. Because nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it.� Related Posts:A Problem with HairYou are the MonsterThe Solitary Vagabond BluesA Little Touchy Toda > read more

Have an Imaginary Conversation

Published on 2011-03-19 07:17:22

When you need some inspiration to write a non-fiction topic or a fiction story, try having a conversation about it, with yourself. Create a second voice to reply to your questions and ideas. See if you can get some fresh perspective by answering your > read more

Write About What Squicks You

Published on 2011-03-18 07:58:01

Think of something you really do fear, something that squicks you every time. Create a concept for a horror movie around it. Have a villain that would scare people when they see it in a movie poster for your movie. … Continue reading → > read more

A Twist to an Old Tale

Published on 2011-03-17 07:42:14

I’m watching Face Off, the final challenge is a fairy tale theme with a twist. The twist being they had to pick a style: haunted, industrial, psychedelic, outer space, or post apocalypse. I thought it was an interesting way to re-create … > read more

Is Open Content for You?

Published on 2011-03-16 06:28:30

Could you let go of your content, send it out into the world and let anyone profit or make changes from it as they will? It’s a big thing to create something, care about it and then abandon it without … Continue reading → > read more

ASCII Art Leprechauns for St. Patrick’s Day

Published on 2011-03-15 09:27:28

Related Posts:ASCII Art Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s DayValentine ASCII Art HeartsChristmas ASCII ArtTry a Unique Header: Figlet FontsDrawing Flowers > read more

ASCII Art Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day

Published on 2011-03-14 06:15:27

One of these is mine. Made when the newsgroup was active with ASCII artists. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Related Posts:Valentine ASCII Art HeartsChristmas ASCII ArtTry a Unique Header: Figlet FontsDrawing FlowersGoing Rural for Doodle Week > read more

Alfred Says “Show don’t Tell”

Published on 2011-03-13 08:35:52

Although this is geared to film makers, it works for writing too. Just think of it as the old thing about “show, don’t tell”. Dialogue should simply be a sound among other sounds, just something that comes out of the … Continu > read more

Fiction Language Becomes Fact

Published on 2011-03-12 09:37:37

It’s interesting how science fiction writers are building our future language. I don’t know who started calling the outer security layer of space ships a shield. But that term will stick. When we do have space ships, they will have … > read more

Guest Post: How To Find Objective Reviews For Your Creative Writing

Published on 2011-03-11 09:40:45

You have just finished your manuscript. You might be wondering if it is really any good. The thing to do first is get an honest review. Having family and well meaning friends have a look at your work is okay, … Continue reading → > read more

Sounds Like Proper English at Tea

Published on 2011-03-10 06:17:10

When you read your posts back to yourself (in your head, not out loud) how do you imagine you sound? I don’t know why but I read my writing with an English accent, like a proper English lady sitting down … Continue reading → > read more

What do you see Outside your Window?

Published on 2011-03-09 07:44:10

What’s Out Your Window? – I’m not looking out a window from a highrise building. I have, in the past. But these days I’m in a one storey house. I can still see snow outside but the roads are clear … Continue reading U > read more

Dodinsky’s Writings

Published on 2011-03-08 12:32:29

Humble Beginnings We can not deny that often a truth and a lie have the same humble beginnings, intended to keep someone from harm, but in the scheme of things both have the same intensity to reduce someone to tears. … Continue reading → > read more

Memoir Writers

Published on 2011-03-07 09:23:42

For Memoir Writers: National Association of Memoir Writers Oral History Association Association of Personal Historians Women’s Memoirs Memories and Memoirs Story Circle Network – Blog: Telling HerStories - Twitter 100 Memoirs Life Story > read more

One Journal Does Not Cover a Lifetime

Published on 2011-03-06 09:56:31

One very silly thing about journals/ diaries used in film are the fact that although the person has kept this journal for decades it is all still enclosed in just one book. I know this is just not possible. My … Continue reading → > read more

Decadent Words by H.P. Lovecraft

Published on 2011-03-05 07:06:36

A list of H.P. Lovecraft’s favourite words. Found on Cthulhu Chick‘s blog. The complete list is on her blog, I edited some out in favour of those that interest me more. Abnormal Accursed Antediluvian Antiqu (e/arian) Blasphem (y/ous) Char > read more

Paper or Pixels?

Published on 2011-03-04 07:57:13

From Restless Writers: Writing on the run: Paper or pixels? For myself, I don’t have anything digital to make notes on once I am away from the computer. But, I have used my digital camera to photograph something I want … Continue reading > read more

Get Your Character Across the Road

Published on 2011-03-03 07:31:38

I found a post I like on a blog that has probably been abandoned, no post since September last year. 5 Motivations For Your Character to Cross the Road by Cassandra Jade in the Realm 1. Greed – They realised … Continue reading → > read more

Prepare for Words Matter Week

Published on 2011-03-02 21:12:52

Words Matter Week – March 6 – 12th. Try the Blog Challenge Questions. Answer each in your blog on the day they begin. Monday, March 7 - Is there a word that has changed, or could change your life? What is … Continue reading → > read more

Words Create Reality

Published on 2011-03-02 19:48:53

From Word Zeal on Twitter – “words don’t merely describe reality. They create it.” #wordlove I really like the #wordlove hashtag too. I will have to remember it. Related Posts:Nominated for Best Twitter BioNaNoTweetMo?Try Somethin > read more

Ubuntu Live, Windows Dead

Published on 2011-03-01 07:42:13

On Thursday my computer began to slow to a crawl. After spending the day trying to work that way I decided to use the Acer recovery and my Windows reboot disk. I copied my files onto a DVD then began … Continue reading → > read more

Don’t Pick Up Lost Poems from the Ground

Published on 2011-02-28 07:25:05

Looking for Poetry Don’t write poems about what’s happening. Nothing is born or dies in poetry’s presence. Next to it, life is a static sun without warmth or light. Friendships, birthdays, personal matters don’t count. DonR > read more

Published on 2011-02-28 00:25:05

Looking for Poetry Don’t write poems about what’s happening. Nothing is born or dies in poetry’s presence. Next to it, life is a static sun without warmth or light. Friendships, birthdays, personal matters don’t count. DonR > read more

The Internet Mapping Project

Published on 2011-02-27 07:21:16

I can’t print the form this is to be drawn on, but here is my contribution to The Internet Mapping Project, as is. Also see Flickr. How would you draw the Internet? Related Posts:Drawing FlowersChristmas ASCII ArtValentine ASCII Art HeartsSnowf > read more

The Very Rich Indie Writer

Published on 2011-02-26 15:13:25

Read on Novelr: The Very Rich Indie Writer I have looked down my nose at e-books, mostly because I don’t like the threat to paper books, newspapers, etc. I guess I am an old fashioned paper snob. But, this post … Continue reading → > read more

Why I Quit Blogging

Published on 2011-02-26 03:16:52

Jon Morrow: Why I Quit Blogging (and what to do if you’re struggling). Related Posts:Quit Assuming you Know MeThe Cause of the Personal BloggerLuv Your Blog Lately?Ontario Blogging WomenThe Back to Blogging Event (Belated) > read more

Bacon and Eggs on a Saturday Morning

Published on 2011-02-26 03:11:50

Write a scene that focuses on breakfast. Pick your characters, your plot and your location, then pull it all together over breakfast. I’d write about some unlikely people meeting in an old local dive where the coffee is hot, the … Continu > read more

A Day to Escape

Published on 2011-02-25 08:49:08

How nice it would be to have a real day off from everything. Like stepping into a clean room and shutting the door on everything behind you. The word for today is escape. I don’t know why. I’m not feeling … Continue reading → > read more

Paper is Sexy

Published on 2011-02-24 08:31:38

I have a letter sent in the mail from a corporation. The paper is sexy. It feels smooth, silky even. The envelope was the same quality of paper. It feels like luxury, decadence and lust all on a page, blank … Continue reading → > read more

Alt Hist Magazine

Published on 2011-02-23 14:20:13

Alt Hist – The magazine of historical fiction and alternate history. My recent post about alternative history. Related Posts:What If? …Ancient Aliens and Life After PeopleA Vintage Burlesque StarPlaying Footsie with your SiteThe Rogue Tax > read more

Playfulness and Learning

Published on 2011-02-23 14:10:47

“When the playful me shows up, I am ready to be a serious learner … a culture of playfulness is closely related to the capacity to learn.” – Rosemary Sutcliff Wikipedia: Rosemary Sutcliff Rosemary Sutcliff: A fan site run by … Conti > read more

A Glum Day

Published on 2011-02-22 01:04:45

Not every day is great, productive or especially anything. I’m escaping from a glum day and visiting my brother out of town. Related Posts:Valentine ASCII Art HeartsChristmas ASCII ArtTry a Unique Header: Figlet FontsDrawing FlowersGoing Rural > read more

Caught in Pajamas

Published on 2011-02-21 09:02:08

Have you ever worn your pajamas outside of the house? Likely you have done so, at least once, for some reason. On 1000 Awesome things wearing pajamas outside the house has become #306 on the list of awesome things. On … Continue reading → > read more

Quit Assuming you Know Me

Published on 2011-02-20 09:51:55

I’m mistaken for a flirt when I’m friendly. I’m mistaken for a bitch when I’m blunt. I’m mistaken for sad when I’m alone. I’m mistaken for shy when I’m quiet. Quit assuming and get to know me. I read this … Continue reading U > read more

Everything Would be Nonsense

Published on 2011-02-19 09:08:52

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn’t. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn’t be. And what it wouldn’t be, it would. … Continue > read more

To Bookmark or Not to Bookmark

Published on 2011-02-18 08:45:33

When you’re reading a book do you mark it with a real bookmark or do you stick random things in them? I like having a bookmark but they tend to wander off. I had one I especially liked but it … Continue reading → > read more

Dead Drops

Published on 2011-02-17 09:54:21

Why would you share random files with strangers? Is it a unique marketing plan? Is it artsy? Or is it just yet another random thing in the universe? You pick. Meanwhile, if you want to try it yourself you can … Continue reading → > read more

Wordsplosion

Published on 2011-02-16 23:35:11

Wordsplosion – brings you the best of the worst of the world of grammatical errors, punctuation gaffes, misspellings, typography etc. We call this family of textual catastrophes “wordsplosions.” This kind of thing is interesting when it doe > read more

What do you Know about Typography?

Published on 2011-02-16 11:51:10

Dzineblog has a post about trends in web design. One of the elements they write about, twice actually, is typography. What do you know about it? I Love Typography: A Guide to Web Typography The Font Feed: Erik Spiekermann’s Typo … Continu > read more

Write Your Own Fortune

Published on 2011-02-15 09:58:30

I always save the fortune from the fortune cookie when we get Chinese food. Some are pretty silly, some are just plain out there and yet the odd one really does get me thinking. However, they do start to clutter … Continue reading → > read more

Happy Valentine’s Day

Published on 2011-02-14 00:39:52

“Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze.” – Amanda Cross My funny valentine Sweet comic valentine You make me smile with my heart Your looks are laughable Unphotographable Yet you’re my favorit > read more

The Positive Posters

Published on 2011-02-14 00:22:55

The Positive Posters is an idea with optimistic intentions born in cloudy times. The Positive Posters are sentences, sayings and quotes of free interpretation, but with a big desire of generating a smile, an optimistic thought or a positive moment. & > read more

How to Write a Romantic Valentine

Published on 2011-02-13 09:04:37

Make a list of things you like about your Valentine. Think of complimentary things to say. What do they like about themselves? Did they do something you really like lately? Does your Valentine have a smile that lights up the … Continue reading > read more

How to Write a Blog Review

Published on 2011-02-12 09:59:09

If you’re ready to go forth and fearlessly give an honest review of another blog… you need a list to guide you along the way. It helps to have a plan with points which can guide you through the review. … Continue reading → > read more

Writing and the Old Razzle Dazzle

Published on 2011-02-11 09:30:06

Have you written a blog post (or some other short piece of writing) lately that left you feeling energized? What was it about? What do you think made you feel energized about the post? On the other side, have you … Continue reading → > read more

Try a Unique Header: Figlet Fonts

Published on 2011-02-10 09:24:28

There are lots of sites where you can make your own ASCII art font headers. Just type in your text and choose which font works for you. I did these at the Text ASCII Art Generator. Related Posts:Valentine ASCII Art … Continue reading → > read more

Valentine ASCII Art Hearts

Published on 2011-02-09 14:52:41

A few Valentines in ASCII Art. There are many others out there but these were my picks for the prettiest. The last three are my own ASCII Art Valentines. Related Posts:Christmas ASCII ArtDrawing FlowersGoing Rural for Doodle WeekMoving It AlongSomeda > read more

Writing Candy Hearts

Published on 2011-02-08 09:47:41

Write your own candy heart slogans. Think up short, romantic, loving, sweet or maybe the odd sassy blurb that could fit on a candy heart. How many can you write? You have my heart. Favourite Valentine. You make me happy. … Continue reading U > read more

A Quote from Mae West

Published on 2011-02-08 02:42:26

“Don’t cry for a man who’s left you, the next one may fall for your smile.” – Mae West. Related Posts:Better Things Fall TogetherFilling in SpaceFairy Tale for the FuturePlain as Day Directions?A Lovely Quote for Stormy Days > read more

Writing in the Snow

Published on 2011-02-07 09:36:14

You may have made a snowman, a snow angel or even a snow fort, but… have you written in the snow? I found this group on Flickr while looking for something else. Funny how I find some of the best … Continue reading → > read more

Letter Writing Fading to Black

Published on 2011-02-06 10:25:14

When did you last write someone a real letter? This is what my nephew, Zack, asked me last week. One of his friends said she would really love to get a letter in the mail. So Zack wrote her a … Continue reading → > read more

Moving It Along

Published on 2011-02-05 13:13:38

I’m taking a day to catch up after a week looking after other people. Sometimes you need to recharge your batteries but can’t really stop to do so. These are the days of our lives and the things we save … Continue reading → > read more

Why I Don’t Follow Twitter Sploggers

Published on 2011-02-04 09:39:37

Are you frustrated because you don’t have the amount of followers on Twitter that you would like or think you should have? Maybe it’s not a social media problem, maybe it’s you! What did you last post to Twitter? Have … Contin > read more

Guest Post: Opening the Door to More Creativity In Your Writing

Published on 2011-02-03 15:36:02

From Bev Walton-Porter at her blog, Elemental Musings. When did you first realize you’d lost your child-like sense of creativity? More important, how long did it take you to regain it? When you did regain a sense of creativity, how … Cont > read more

Writing the Preface

Published on 2011-02-02 09:24:54

Do you ever read the preface in books? I do. It seems they should be read as a tribute to the writer, also, there is background to the stories and information about to be given. Write a preface for whatever … Continue reading → > read more

Get More Writing Done

Published on 2011-02-01 09:09:28

Creative Writing Ideas and Prompts has a post Five Commandments to Get More Writing Done. The main point is: just do it! It works, if you can make yourself just do it, the writing will get done. Make a decision … Continue reading → > read more

Dictionary Flip

Published on 2011-01-31 09:35:26

Pick ten words out of the dictionary, randomly. Pull all of these words together into a story, poem or even a non-fiction article if you can stretch your wits, your imagination and your creativity further. Make it sincere or sarcastic. … Contin > read more

Ideas, Experiences and Knowledge

Published on 2011-01-30 09:32:36

Where do you get your ideas? There are endless sources for ideas. It’s only when you have a dry spell that the next idea seems like mirage in the desert. Avoid a dry spell with some planning ahead. Build an … Continue reading → > read more

Your Welcome Home Party

Published on 2011-01-29 09:24:35

It’s nice to come home after being away. You might be off on a safari or just away to the grocery store. But that feeling of being home again when you walk in the door is a nice one. My … Continue reading → > read more

Paleofuture: The Old Future Plans

Published on 2011-01-28 12:29:30

Paleofuture is a blog that looks at past predictions of the future. Remember flying cars, meal pills, hoverboards, jetpacks, robot maids…? What past prediction, or fictional invention would you most like to have become real and available for ev > read more

Create Your Personal Almanac

Published on 2011-01-27 09:47:31

I like to pick up The Farmer’s Almanac each year. I’m not a farmer, not even a heavy gardener. I just enjoy the articles, and the pictures. A few years ago we got a Canadian Almanac from the magazine, Harrowsmith … Continue reading > read more

Drawing Flowers

Published on 2011-01-26 09:48:32

I like to draw a bit. Sometimes they get online, but my scanner is a bit temperamental, so sometimes they just get added to the pile of drawings I have done. I used to keep them posted to Flickr as … Continue reading → > read more

Prelapsarian Paradise

Published on 2011-01-25 09:53:08

I’m reading a book by Zoe Archer which uses the phrase “prelapsarian paradise”. I’d never heard of the word prelapsarian. So, I got out of bed (I love to read in bed long after I should be sleeping) and looked … Continue > read more

Follow Your Bliss

Published on 2011-01-24 09:18:24

“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.” “The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to … > read more

Terrifically, Terribly Tardy

Published on 2011-01-23 09:22:39

Being late is all kind of relative. My sister is a small business woman. When we meet for coffee/ tea (which isn’t often) I don’t ask for a precise time. I ask for an approximate hour. This is so I … Continue reading → > read more

A Testimonial

Published on 2011-01-22 00:37:30

A testimonial is given as acknowledgment of quality service or product. A testimonial is given by someone who has benefited from the service/ product and is willing to write (and have it published) a tribute to the quality of the … Continue rea > read more

Write Up

Published on 2011-01-21 20:02:23

“If you want to write, you can. Fear stops most people from writing, not lack of talent, whatever that is. Who am I? What right do I have to speak? Who will listen if I do? You’re a human being, … Continue reading → > read more

Ideas are Like Onions

Published on 2011-01-21 09:53:55

I love days when you get an idea and think of another hundred ideas, plans and plots all unraveling from the one original idea. Like peeling an onion, finding more layers upon layers inside. Related Posts:One for the Ideas FolderChristmas ASCII Art > read more

Dance your Way Across

Published on 2011-01-20 17:02:21

“If you’re going to traverse thin ice, you might as well dance your way across.” – Mercedes Lackey. Found on Jade Walker’s site. Related Posts:Attack At Odd HoursThey Move Onto DanceA Lovely Quote for Stormy DaysHow do y > read more

Confessions of a Book Addict

Published on 2011-01-20 09:10:55

@YourNeedtoRead on Twitter posted: Sometimes I call in sick just so I can read.#Confessionsofabookaddict What would your Confessions of a Book Addict be? I can confess that (as a kid) I would get up in the middle of the night … Continue reading > read more

Invisible Desk Merit Badge for Writers

Published on 2011-01-19 09:18:50

If you were only able to see the top of my desk you would consider me a great candidate for Hoarders. I have various pens, a highlighter, one still unused straw in it’s paper wrapper, the USB cable for my … Continue reading → > read more

A Little Insecure

Published on 2011-01-18 09:38:04

“I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my … Continue reading  > read more

Selecting, Collecting, Connecting and Correcting

Published on 2011-01-18 09:16:03

Steps in the Writing Process Selecting Collecting Connecting Correcting I browsed through an old language arts school textbook. I liked the list they wrote for the steps in the writing process. It’s true when you think about it. Selecting ̵ > read more

How Do you Want to Write?

Published on 2011-01-17 09:15:38

When you run dry on ideas to write about try thinking of your format or style instead. Work from another direction. When writing a blog entry, a personal essay in essence, you can write it free form, traditional, human interest, … Continue read > read more

Think your Way Through

Published on 2011-01-16 09:25:13

Whether you just need to stop and gather your thoughts, make a decision or just come up with a plan, we all need to think. Once you get rid of or ignore the distractions it’s suddenly just you and your … Continue reading → > read more

Guest Post: Best Ways to Ignite Your Imagination for Writing

Published on 2011-01-15 09:19:47

Best Ways to Ignite Your Imagination for Writing You’re sitting there staring at the keyboard. Your wheels are turning but you are going nowhere fast. Writer’s block happens to the best in the business. The trick to recovering and igniting … > read more

Somedays…

Published on 2011-01-14 09:15:56

Some days you just need a day off, some time to yourself and a good book alongside a good latte. Related Posts:Christmas ASCII ArtGood Bye 2010Going Rural for Doodle WeekIllustrating for ChristmasThe UnBirthday Celebration Too > read more

Write About your Flag

Published on 2011-01-13 09:23:02

As found on a Facebook profile today: A hero of war Is that what they see Just medals and scars So damn proud of me And I brought home that flag Now it gathers dust It’s a flag that I … Continue reading → > read more

What If? …

Published on 2011-01-12 09:29:51

Create an alternate history for your day, today. Start with getting out of bed and then along the way, change something so that your day goes in another direction. The same things happen around you, unless they are changed by … Continue reading > read more

Yahoo Contributor Network

Published on 2011-01-12 02:10:44

The Yahoo! Contributor Network allows writers, photographers, and videographers to share their knowledge and passion with hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Find your audience and earn money by publishing your unique perspectives on Associated > read more

Chocolate Communication

Published on 2011-01-11 09:23:59

“Giving chocolate to others is an intimate form of communication, a sharing of deep, dark secrets”. – Milton Zelman, publisher of Chocolate News. I’ve been looking at chocolate most of the day. Can you motivate yourself to wri > read more

The Food Project Blog Challenges

Published on 2011-01-10 09:03:39

Food Buzz had ten challenges for food bloggers in their Food Project Blog. The contest is over, the winner announced. But the challenges can inspire some fresh ideas for all bloggers, of every niche. #1 Ready, Set, Blog! Recipe for … Continue r > read more

The Importance of Checking for Typos

Published on 2011-01-09 18:51:22

I found this on the site of a popular bookseller. Maybe “Dead Sex” would help sell books, but maybe not in this market. Either way, it’s a mistake and makes the bookseller and their staff look pretty sloppy. Related Posts:Christmas > read more

Make a List of a Different Kind

Published on 2011-01-08 09:54:49

As read on Homemakers.com, The Bright Side column: Make an I-did-it list. … have you ever considered getting motivated for the new year by making an I-did-it list for all of the things you’ve already accomplished? … before you write  > read more

How to Start People Watching

Published on 2011-01-07 09:53:46

You can’t write about people if you’ve never watched people, random people in random settings. I like getting a coffee, sitting by a window on along a busy street with a lot of foot traffic going by. I like to … Continue reading  > read more

Ancient Aliens and Life After People

Published on 2011-01-06 20:48:12

I just finished watching Ancient Aliens on the History Channel. What a lot of information packed into an hour long show. Next up is the new season of Life After People. How does history fire up your imagination? Have you … Continue reading U > read more

Lava Doesn’t Care if it Hurts Your Feelings

Published on 2011-01-06 09:19:28

Sometimes odd phrases just pop into my head. They don’t make sense in a logical way, but they reflect my sense of irony and personal logic. Today I’ve been watching a marathon of TV shows about geography of the planet. … Continue re > read more

Are you Doing the WordPress Daily Post Challenge?

Published on 2011-01-05 07:01:11

I’ve been writing daily posts here since November 2007. It’s been a challenge at times. I’ve gotten behind now and then and I’ve used the scheduled posts feature to my advantage many times. Lately I have begun using illustrati > read more

Half Sleeping Inspiration

Published on 2011-01-04 09:55:10

Most of the time I only remember a dream for a few minutes once I wake up. A lot of the time I don’t think I even dream at all. But, the most unusual things are the thought splurges I … Continue reading → > read more

Reconnect by Getting Hands On

Published on 2011-01-03 09:01:00

When did you last write something out, by hand? Reconnect to your creativity by getting more hands on again. Pull yourself away from the computer and write long hand at a coffee shop. Or get paper and pen and draw … Continue reading → > read more

Hiding in Plain Sight

Published on 2011-01-02 09:56:55

Watching replays of Corner Gas this morning. I think the Comedy Channel is running them 24 hours a day over the New Year. The one on right now is where Brent goes on vacation, a staycation. He is sitting right … Continue reading → > read more

Happy New Year!

Published on 2011-01-01 00:00:16

Related Posts:Christmas ASCII ArtGoing Rural for Doodle WeekBack Next YearGood Bye 2010Happy Birthday to Me > read more

Back Next Year

Published on 2010-12-31 09:00:56

Related Posts:Christmas ASCII ArtGoing Rural for Doodle WeekHappy New Year!Good Bye 2010Personal Snow DayReaders who viewed this page, also viewed:Christmas ASCII ArtGood Bye 2010 > read more